DJ ots.CorporateNews: SYGNIS Pharma AG / SYGNIS strengthens IP position in the treatment of ...
Heidelberg (ots) - SYGNIS Pharma AG (Frankfurt: LIO; ISIN
DE0005043509; Prime Standard) today announced that the US Patent and
Trademark office (USPTO) published a Notice of Allowance for the
patent application which protects the treatment of stroke patients
with AX200 in the USA. SYGNIS exclusively licensed the respective
global rights to this patent application. Following the granting of
the corresponding European patent in 2006, AX200 will now also be
protected in the USA, the world's largest pharma market for the
treatment of stroke patients.
AX200 is SYGNIS' product name for G-CSF, an endogenous protein. It
is SYGNIS' lead compound and is being developed for the treatment of
neurodegenerative disorders. SYGNIS is currently preparing a Phase II
efficacy trial for AX200 in acute stroke and plans to initiate the
trial by the end of fiscal year 2008/2009. SYGNIS is also developing
AX200 for additional neurological indications. In spring 2008 the
company was granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) by the European
Commission for AX200 in the treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis (ALS) and in early November 2008 in the treatment of spinal
cord injury.
Dr. Alfred Bach, CEO of SYGNIS Pharma AG, said: "We are very
encouraged to receive this Notice of Allowance from the USPTO. Stroke
is the second leading cause of death in the US and novel treatment
options are urgently needed. Through the patent position in the USA
AX200 is protected in the treatment of stroke in the world's largest
pharma market. This significantly extends the commercial value of
AX200 for the treatment of stroke. We continue to extend our IP
position around AX200 and to advance the use of the potential of
AX200."
About AX200
AX200 is a biological molecule, developed by SYGNIS for the
treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In the indication stroke it
is the most advanced drug candidate in SYGNIS' product pipeline. In
Summer 2007 the Phase IIa of the clinical development was
successfully completed. AX200 is an endogenous protein. As part of
the body's own protective action the production of AX200 is boosted
after brain damage. If the molecule is given as a medication it
increases the existing endogenous response to the damage. SYGNIS
pursues a multiple neurotherapeutic approach in the development of
AX200 for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases: AX200 stops
neuronal cell death in the acute phase of the disease while at the
same time stimulating the regeneration of the already damaged CNS
through the stimulation of neurogenesis as well as arteriogenesis and
the reorganisation of neuronal networks. Besides stroke, AX200 is
currently in pre-clinical testing for further neurodegenerative
indications such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Spinal Cord
Injuries.
About SYGNIS Pharma
SYGNIS Pharma AG, headquartered in Heidelberg, is a specialty
pharmaceutical company listed on the Prime Standard of the German
stock exchange. The Company is focused on the research, development
and marketing of innovative therapies for the treatment of disorders
of the Central Nervous System. These include Stroke, Amyotrophic
Lateral Sclerosis and neurological disorders resulting from injuries
to the brain or spinal cord. All these disorders are characterized by
the fact that, as the disease progresses, nerve cells are damaged and
die. Although there is great medical demand, there are currently no
or only inadequate treatment options available.
One of the central elements in this value-creation chain is the
continued development of the existing product pipeline. This is
achieved by testing the Company's proprietary compounds which are
already under development in a number of further CNS indications
("line extension"). By means of specific R&D programs at SYGNIS, new
pre-clinical drug candidates are identified and evaluated and
suitable CNS product candidates are also systematically tested for
the purpose of acquisition or in-licensing.
### Disclaimer Some statements included in this press release,
relating neither to proven financial results nor other historical
data, should be viewed as forward-looking, i.e. not definite. Such
statements are mainly predictions of future results, trends, plans or
goals. These statements should not be considered to be total
guarantees since given their very nature they are subject to known
and unknown risks and imponderability and can be affected by other
factors as a consequence of which the actual results, plans and goals
of SYGNIS Pharma AG may deviate greatly from the established
conclusions or implied predictions contained in such statements.
SYGNIS does not undertake to publicly update or revise these
statements in the light of new information or future results or for
any other reason. ###
Originaltext: SYGNIS Pharma AG
digital press kits: http://www.presseportal.de/pm/65063
press kits via RSS: http://www.presseportal.de/rss/pm_65063.rss2
ISIN: DE0005043509
Pressekontakt:
SYGNIS Pharma AG:
Dr. Franz-Werner Haas
Vice President Operations
+49 (0) 6221 454 812
franz-werner.haas@sygnis.de
Media-Contact:
Julia Phillips
Financial Dynamics
Tel.: +44 (0) 20 7269 7187
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
December 04, 2008 07:09 ET (12:09 GMT)
© 2008 Dow Jones News
